Wave Properties

The material through which a wave travels, called the medium, vibrates differently in transverse waves and longitudinal waves.

	In a transverse wave, the medium vibrates in a direction at right angles to the direction the wave travels.
	In a longitudinal wave, the medium vibrates parallel to the direction the wave travels.

1. How are the wavelength and amplitude of a transverse wave measured?
2. How are the wavelength and amplitude of a longitudinal wave measured?

Check your answers.

Further Exploration

Surfers rely on wave properties to tell them if a beach has good waves for surfboarding. To learn which wave properties are important to surfers, visit Exploritorium: Hanging Ten. Write a paragraph describing which wave properties you would use to pick a good beach for surfing.